Improvement in grain-distributers



1. WALKER.

Grain-Distrihuter.

N0. I62,591. PatentedApril27,l875.-

THE GRAPHIC C0.PHOTO -LITH.39&41 PARK PLACLNX.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrroa.

JAMES WALKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-DISTRIBUTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 162,59 l, dated April17, 1875; application filed March 19, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES WALKER, of New York. in the county of New Yorkand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Grain-Distributers and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an improved graindistributer.

In the drawings, Figure .l is a section of one of the decks of a ship atthe hatchway, showing my apparatus in position; Fig. 2, a plan view ofthe same.

My invention has for its object the construction of an apparatus to beplaced in the holds of ships to distribute or scatter the grain whichthe vessel is being loaded with as it is delivered into the vessel.instead of delivering the grain in a heap and having it removed by hand,as is customary, thus, to a greater;- tent, lessening the manual labor,and consequently cost, of ship loading.

A is a portion of a ship or other vessel, and B the hatcbway or openingtherein. Over the hatchway B is placed and secured a removable andadjustable frame, 0 O, of any appropriate or desired construction, whichsupports a vertical shaft, D. On the lower part of this shaft is awheel, E, which is constructed something on the same principle of awater-wheel, with straight, curved, or other formed blades 0, and opencentral portion 6. F is a hopper placed over the wheel E, andcommunicating directly with the center of the wheel. G is a pulley onthe end of the shaft D, and by which the wheel E is revolved. H is aframe secured by a pin or set-screw, h, to a vertical post, H, whichpost may be secured to the ship or other appropriate place. On the topof the frame H is secured by a center pin, h, a frame, I, which turnsloosely on the pin h, and within this frame I is journaled 0r mounted apulley-shaft, I. Secured by a setscrew, c, to the frame I is a swingingblock or piece, J, on which are journaled or mounted two pulleys, j. Thedriving-band or the bands from the elevator pass over the pulley-shaft1, around the pulleys j, and around the pul ley G on the shaft D; thusmotion is communicated to the wheel E.

The object of thus constructing and securing the frames H I J, andmaking them in a limited degree movable or swinging, is to allow aslight movement or play of the parts, and consequently permit the samemovements to be made by the bands. Thus the different parts and bandsare always kept or brought in a line, or in relative position one withthe other, and with the pulley G on the wheelshaft D, to allow free andeasy movement of the driving-band,11o matter how much or in whatdirection the ship is moved or oscillated in the water, the parts alwaysautomatically adjusting themselves relatively to the ships movements.

The operation is as follows: The grain or other material to be loadedinto the ships hold is delivered to the hopper F, and into the interiorof thewheel E. A rapid rotary motion is given to the wheel E, which maybe by bands from the elevator, passing over and around the pulleys I, j,and G- Thus, as the grain and material enters the wheel through thehopper, it is thrown off or scattered by centrifugal force or action ofthe wheel in all directions around the hold or ships space.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the movable and pivoted frames H I J, as and forthe purposes described. v

2. The adjustable and removable framework or support 0 O, for supportingthe shaft D, in combination with the wheel E, substantially asdescribed.

3. The device or mechanism herein described 4 JAMES WALKER.

Witnesses WM. H. PEARSON, J r., WM. E. FLETCHER.

